If you aspire to lead members in your community to healthier, happier lives, then completing an online Master of Public Health from Lamar University might be a good choice for you. As an influencer in the public health field, you’ll work to prevent the spread of disease and promote healthy lifestyles using a combination of research, public policy and population health sciences. Population health sciences, a new development in public health, encourages related healthcare groups to work together for the good of the community they serve.
Who Should Enroll?
“Our program is mainly designed for working professionals — those who are already in their careers and want a tool to give them an edge or to keep them moving up the ladder,” explains Dr. Praphul Joshi, program director and associate professor of health at Lamar University. “Our target is to recruit professionals in health-related fields, including those employed at public health agencies, nonprofit organizations, physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals as well as students planning to attend or attending medical school.”
How Can You Lead?
“All too often, we focus on reducing disease-specific morbidity and mortality rather than the significant leadership and management skills needed to achieving the outcomes we desire most,” notes Dr. Michael Fraser, Executive Director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. “In short, the challenge of creating a Public Health 3.0 workforce is less about subject matter expertise and the science of public health and more about building the leadership and management competencies of public health workers nationwide.”
Dr. Edward Baker, adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina, offers a similar perspective: “The opportunity to provide leadership should be seen as a gift, not an entitlement. All too often the leader may feel that he or she should have all the answers. … Leaders should be skilled at asking the right questions, rather than holding themselves to the impossible task of being all knowing. Finally, inspirational leaders demonstrate that they care about others, first, for who they are and, second, for what they can do.”
What Is the Job Outlook?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health industry is expected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. An estimated 2.4 million new jobs will be needed, more than in any other occupational group.
How Can You Make a Difference?
Lamar University’s unique program focuses on solutions to chronic health issues that affect low socio-economic populations. For instance, southeast Texas has a very high rate of chronic conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and several forms of cancer. Unfortunately, those hardest hit often cannot afford the high cost of ongoing medical care.
“The MPH program is geared toward those who aim at improving the lives of others through public health by building one-on-one relationships, conducting research or analyzing health-related data,” says Dr. Joshi. “Many public health-related jobs require a graduate degree, and graduate education provides the skills and knowledge necessary to solve the increasingly complex public health issues facing the country and world.”
With an MPH from Lamar University, you will be able to advocate for political, social and economic policies and programs that will decrease health disparities. You can lead the way with a career in healthcare, a career where you can make a difference.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online MPH program.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: What Is Population Health?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Healthcare Occupations
